As the most-hyped Silicon Valley IPOs like Uber and Lyft stumble out of the gates, the app economy fueled by billions in venture capital is looking vulnerable. And many of the best new ideas in tech are not coming from California.Media

The California utility responsible for a massive, 4-month-long gas leak near Los Angeles in 2015 failed to investigate dozens of leaks over decades at the natural gas storage facility, according to a state report released on Friday.

California Water Service Group Holding (CWT) on Thursday reported a net loss for the first quarter of $ 7.6 million or $ 0.16 per share, wider than net loss of $ 0.8 million or $ 0.02 per share in the year-ago period.RTT – Earnings

Rent control is back on the front burner in California as lawmakers consider a bill that would cap monthly increases statewide and Gov. Gavin Newsom weighs in to support "a renter protection package."Real Estate

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

Aetna has settled a lawsuit in which a company medical director said under oath that he never looked at patients’ records when deciding whether to approve or deny coverage — testimony that prompted an investigation by the California insurance commissioner.

A bill pending in the California Legislature sets an ambitious goal of cutting the state's child poverty rate in half by 2039 and also eliminating the number of kids in "deep poverty" by 2024.Real Estate

The world’s largest aircraft took off over the Mojave Desert in California on Saturday, the first flight for the carbon-composite plane built by Stratolaunch Systems Corp, started by late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, as the company enters the lucrative private space market.

California lawmakers are in the beginning process of ending discrimination against persons who wear their hair in traditional natural styles, such as afros, braids and dreadlocks.

A new bill titled the “Crown-Act” or SB188, would make it illegal for employers to participate or enforce workplace policies which determine how Black employees and employees of color, choose to wear their hair, according to KABC-TV.

The bill is supported by California Sen. Holly Mitchell who sports sisterlocks, a natural style derived from dreadlocks but separated in smaller portions. Mitchell represents the 30th Senate District, which includes Culver City, Ladera Heights, Westmont, Crenshaw, Downtown, and Florence, well-known Black neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Mitchell has served in her role for almost six years.

“There are any number of court cases that we’ll talk about in judiciary committee that will suggest it is a problem for employees across this country and across the state,” Mitchell said.

The bill follows a recent surge in lawmakers taking a vested interest in hair discrimination, as the laws disproportionately affect Black people. In February, New York City introduced guidelines which would give legal discourse to those who have been either harassed, punished, or terminated from their positions by wearing natural hair styles.

As we know in recent national cases surrounding the issue, Black employees and military service members have been discriminated against the way they chose to wear their hair, which in many times is the way it grows out of their head.

Workplace practices have long determined respectability based on European beauty standards. And unfortunately the shame and practice of hair discrimination starts even before the workplace, and is not limited to gender.

In January, a New Jersey teen was forced to cut his dreadlocks before he was allowed to participate at a wrestling event. Video of the incident went viral and sparked discussions regarding the pervasiveness of hair discrimination.

Five suspected gang members have been accused of attempted murder and other charges after investigators said the group attacked, stabbed and carjacked a pregnant Catholic school teacher in Southern California last week.FOX News

SPECIAL NEWS BULLETIN:

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

Even before former Rep. Beto O'Rourke announced his formal 2020 presidential run Thursday, he enjoyed political support in California, where a draft movement has included supporters throughout the state.Politics

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

Nine people were injured early Sunday after a California driver who was allegedly on drugs mowed down pedestrians in California and trapped some under his vehicle, police said.FOX News

SPECIAL NEWS BULLETIN:

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

The University of California will soon be granted a potentially valuable patent on the revolutionary gene-editing technology known as CRISPR, according to a document filed by the U.S. patent office on Friday.

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

Earning cash when you switch off the lights, unplug the TV and pause the laundry cycle for a few hours each week?

It sounds too good to true, but it’s possible with OhmConnect, an energy-saving program for Californians.

Still not convinced? We talked with John Hastie, a San Diego resident who has earned up to $ 487 a month through the platform. Then there’s Tanya Williams, a stay-at-home mom who earned an extra $ 1,700 in 2017. She turned saving energy into a game with her kids.

So now you’re wondering: How does OhmConnect work? Can I just turn off my lights right now and make some money? Not exactly, but it’s almost that simple.

Here’s how you’ll get started:

Sign up for a free OhmConnect account and sync it with your online utility account though Pacific Gas & Electric Co., San Diego Gas & Electric or Southern California Edison.

Once or twice a week, you’ll receive a text message to participate in an #OhmHour, an hour of reduced energy consumption. Turn down unnecessary lights, hold off on doing the laundry or the dishes, and opt for a fan instead of the A/C. It’s the perfect time to go outside, play games on your phone, or go to the movies.

OhmConnect then pays you for reducing your electricity consumption during #OhmHours.

So… why is OhmConnect willing to pay you?

OhmHours typically occur during times of peak energy usage (think: weekday evenings when everyone’s getting home from work). Rather than tapping into expensive (and dirty!) peaker plants (basically back-up plants for high-demand hours), utility companies offer an incentive to customers who cut back on energy consumption.

The money the utility company saves by avoiding these peaker plants is passed back to you, the customer, who so diligently saved during that high-demand time.

Your earnings are based on how much power you save. The more you save, the higher your OhmConnect status, which helps you earn even more.

To date, OhmConnect has paid its users $ 9 million.

Oh, and here’s a little bonus to get you started: Right now, OhmConnect is handing out $ 10 Target e-gift cards after you connect the service with one of the previously mentioned utility accounts.

(OhmConnect estimates the process typically takes less than two days.)

Once you’re approved, you can start earning points, for your energy savings, which translate to cash. In about two days, you’ll receive your Target e-gift card via email.

Not only are you helping save the world, you’re also earning some money along the way!

Carson Kohler (carson@thepennyhoarder.com) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

Formed in 2017, the commission is composed of a statewide group of senior leaders representing health, education, employment, labor, and government. They are tasked with identifying opportunities for the health workforce to further meet the changing needs of the state’s diverse population.

“One of the wisest things that the commission did at the outset was make the decision to focus on three priority areas: mental health, healthy aging, and primary care,” said Pat Courneya, MD, commission member and chief medical officer for National Health Plan and Hospitals Quality at Kaiser Permanente.

“In particular, mental health presents an incredible challenge,” Dr. Courneya said. “The demand for effective mental health services is growing continuously and the supply of well-trained mental health workers who reflect the populations we’re trying to serve is just not up to the demand.”

According to the Commission’s findings, nearly 17 percent of Californians have mental health needs, and 1 in 20 has a serious mental health condition. Among those, about two-thirds of California adults with a mental illness and two-thirds of adolescents with major depressive episodes do not receive the treatment they need.

At the same time, the Commission projects that over the next decade California will have 41 percent fewer psychiatrists and 11 percent fewer psychologists, marriage and family therapists, clinical counselors, and social workers than needed.

Kaiser Permanente has recognized this workforce challenge for some time and is deeply committed to providing quality mental health care for its members. Despite this shortage in California, Kaiser Permanente has increased the number of therapists on its staff by 30 percent since 2015. Kaiser Permanente also is helping to address the shortage through training programs at its medical centers for postdoctoral residents and post-master’s fellows. The ACGME (Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education) has accredited two new Kaiser Permanente Adult Psychiatry residency programs, in the East Bay and San Jose medical centers, starting in 2019. This demonstrates the organization’s commitment to educating and training a full array of mental health clinicians for the future. And, the Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine, now under construction, will incorporate a comprehensive mental health curriculum for new physicians.

At the same time, Kaiser Permanente invested more than $ 175 million in 2018 to expand and enhance treatment facilities specifically designed to provide mental health care. To make care convenient and accessible, the organization has doubled the number of its mental health tele-visits since 2016 and is making it possible for members to receive mental health care throughout Kaiser Permanente by embedding mental health professionals in primary care offices, emergency departments, and community settings.

Kaiser Permanente still has work to do to continue providing members access to the mental health care they need.

As Dr. Courneya affirmed, “We — health care leaders, lawmakers, citizens, and educators — need to come together to tackle this issue, as the commission recommends, to put us on the right path to recruit, train, and retain more psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health workers who reflect the populations we serve.”

Kaiser Permanente has some of the best and brightest minds in health care. With its employees and physicians’ teamwork, dedication, and leadership, the organization can continue to address this growing challenge and lead the way in delivering high-quality, affordable care for total health — mind, body, and spirit.

Top US general: Political talks with Taliban are ‘positive’; Liam Neeson shares story about looking for a black person to killABC News: World News Tonight

SPECIAL NEWS BULLETIN:

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

When President Donald Trump demands a border wall or threatens to deport young unauthorized immigrants, one of the loudest opposition voices comes from the son of Mexican immigrants — who also happens to be California’s top lawyer.

Democrat Xavier Becerra, the state’s first Latino attorney general, is not only one of Trump’s biggest critics, he is an unrelenting adversary in court, striking at Republican efforts to overturn federal rules not just on immigration, but on health care, birth control, climate change and more.

On Tuesday, Becerra, 61, will take the national stage when he gives the Spanish-language rebuttal to the president’s State of the Union address. He has challenged the Trump agenda before.

Becerra has taken the Trump administration to court 45 times since former Gov. Jerry Brown appointed him to the job in 2017. In November, voters overwhelmingly gave him a four-year term, validating his decision to leave Congress after 24 years.

Becerra, whose wife is a doctor, is leading a coalition of 20 states and the District of Columbia in defending the Affordable Care Act against a Texas lawsuit that could determine the fate of the law — and with it, health coverage for millions of Americans. And he won a nationwide court injunction last year that blocked the Trump administration’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which allows qualified young people who were brought into the U.S. illegally as children to obtain temporary work permits.

When news reports last month revealed that Trump was considering diverting emergency disaster relief funds from California, Florida and Texas during the partial federal government shutdown, Becerra condemned the president on Twitter for poaching funds for a “reckless & lawless” border wall.

The fights are ones that Becerra describes as personal. He talked to California Healthline’s Samantha Young about his role — and how his upbringing influences his legal decisions.

The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Q: You were a veteran member of Congress in a leadership role. Why did you take this job?

November 2016 hits. We have the election. All the things that I cared about were going to be placed in jeopardy by this new president.

I found myself thinking I probably could make a bigger difference as the attorney general for the entire state of California, defending everything I fought to erect, than as a minority member in the House of Representatives trying to make my point, but always losing.

I made a calculation. I think I made the right choice.

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Q: You have sued the Trump administration 45 times on education, immigration, health care, birth control access, climate change and more. What’s the one case you really wanted to win?

I’ll give you two.

First, the Affordable Care Act, knowing how much it has been a game changer for families. I would never have believed that I’d be leading the effort to protect the entire Affordable Care Act as an attorney general for one of 50 states. But here I am.

The second one is the DACA litigation, because as the son of immigrants, I watched my parents struggle and saw the things they had to live through. I believe these DACA recipients are going to be some of the greatest leaders America has and it’s because they had to go through so much like my parents did. So, it’s very personal.

Q: Do you remember your parents’ economic struggles as a child?

I thought I was middle class growing up as a kid. It really wasn’t until I was driving with my mom to start my first day at Stanford University, driving through Palo Alto, that I realized I’m not middle class.

We always had decent food to eat. I never got a pair of Converse. I never had a pair of Levi’s jeans. Never had that kind of stuff, but I always had clothes. It didn’t dawn on me that we were much different than other folks.

Everything I do is informed by what I grew up with. I defend immigrants with a passion because I saw immigrants every day of my life. And I know how hard they work. I never saw a day where my dad didn’t work.

My mom came here when she was 18 from Guadalajara, when she married my dad. Didn’t know English. Learned it. She could always find a job, and when she learned English it became easier. But she could never go very high because she never went to college.

Q: You believe everyone should have access to health care. Was there ever a period in your life when you didn’t have health insurance?

I don’t ever recall a time when I didn’t. That’s why I’m such a big defender of unions. My dad was a construction worker. My dad got to the sixth grade. As difficult as it is for someone with a sixth-grade education to get a decent job, and while being a manual laborer and working construction doesn’t make you a millionaire, if you work for a union it gets you basic benefits.

I knew what it meant to have health insurance, especially on the day my mom ended up having a miscarriage. She was hemorrhaging at home and she had to be rushed to the hospital. There was no hesitation.

We knew we could go to the doctor — and everybody should know that. For me, health care is a right. I’ve been a single-payer advocate all my life.

Q: Why do you think it’s important to build coalitions with other states when challenging the Trump administration?

Lifting something by yourself is very difficult. When you get a team to do it, it just clicks so much easier. Maybe it’s because I went through Congress more years in the minority than the majority, where you realize what it takes to actually cobble together a coalition to get something done. Or, maybe it’s just that when you’ve been in a minority all your life, the son of immigrants with very little, you know it takes a team effort.

I got through Stanford knowing my family didn’t have a lot of money, so I had to work, take out student loans and receive help from the government. It was a combination of a lot of things.

Q: What’s your response to critics who say state attorneys general are “militarizing” their office to overturn policies your party can’t block in Congress?

Which of the cases should we not have filed? The one to defend the Affordable Care Act, or the one to prevent women from losing access to birth control, or is it the one to allow DACA Dreamers to be deported, or is it the one to make sure that we are defending against a crazy border wall, or is it the one that should allow predatory for-profit colleges to continue to avoid having to provide relief to students who were defrauded?

We’re not doing this because we’re trying to attack the federal government or because we’ve got it out for this particular president. How would we explain to the people who would have been unprotected why we just watched, why we just spectated?

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

Virginia governor refuses to resign after a racist photo in his yearbook surfaces; An all-female crew of fighter pilots flew in formation in honor of Rosemary MarinerABC News: World News Tonight

SPECIAL NEWS BULLETIN:

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

The housing pain persists in Southern California, as higher costs weigh heavily on potential buyers. Home sales in the region fell 20.3 percent year over year in December, according to CoreLogic. That is the lowest December sales pace since 2007.Real Estate

Community Partners recently presented an Albert R. Rodriguez Civic Legacy Honor in Los Angeles to Kaiser Permanente Southern California in recognition of its strong partnership and community health work with the organization. Inspired by Community Partners’ late co-founder, the award acknowledges spirited dedication to ethical integrity, public accountability, and fiscal prudence.

Community Partners offers expert guidance and essential services to help launch and grow creative solutions to community challenges in Southern California. Kaiser Permanente has proudly collaborated with the nonprofit for the past decade on various projects, including:

The formation of the Institute for High Quality Care, which provides tools, training, and resources for safety net health care providers, integrated health delivery systems, and foundations focused on improving the health of the communities they serve

Roberta Tinajero, community health manager, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, accepted the award for Kaiser Permanente at Community Partners’ annual holiday event in December 2018. Tinajero praised the support and guidance of Community Partners’ staff, emphasizing that “Community Partners has taught us what true resident and youth involvement is all about.”

The event was a fund raiser started by Ryan Braun and Chris Yelich (Two MLB MVPs) to help the families of both the shootings and the wildfires. Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs was in attendance to support the effort along with a massive group of celebrities and sports figures.

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

If President Donald Trump follows up on his threat to close the southern border, it could potentially result in millions of dollars in losses to local businesses in regions such as San Diego County.Politics

Authorities are searching for a man believed to be living in the country illegally who they say gunned down a California police officer the day after Christmas, inflaming the nationwide debate on immigrationABC News: U.S.

A California woman faces charges for allegedly lying about the existence of a firefighter husband to raise money she claimed would go toward crews battling record-breaking wildfires, officials said. Ashley Bemis, of San Clemente, was arrested Tuesday in connection to social media scam in which she allegedly swindled $ 11,000 worth of cash and gift donations…News | New York Post

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — A sheriff’s deputy who died in a mass shooting at a Southern California bar was shot five times by a gunman who massacred 11 others, but the officer was killed by friendly fire, authorities said Friday.

Sgt. Ron Helus was fatally shot in the heart by a California highway patrolman who had joined him in a firefight with the gunman at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks on Nov. 7, Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub said.

“It was just a tragic detail that unfolded so rapidly, in my view it was unavoidable,” Ayub said. “They were ambushed almost immediately.”

Ayub said the fatal shot did not diminish the heroism shown by the officers. The CHP officer was not identified, but is a 9-year veteran of the force who is on leave.

Investigators did not offer any more insight into what drove Ian David Long, 28, to storm the country and western bar at an event for college students.

Long took his own life after the gun battle with the two officers.

Long threw smoke grenades into the group of revelers, obstructing what they could see, before he opened fire.

Then he used a flashlight with a laser sight attached to his .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol as he fired.

Panicked revelers smashed windows to flee, dived under tables and piled on top of each other in an effort to dodge the gunfire.

The first two officers to arrive at the scene, Helus and a California Highway Patrol officer, saw at least 100 people fleeing the bar.

Long had gotten into a tactical position and fired on them when they entered, killing Helus. The 29-year veteran of the department was close to retirement.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Kaiser Permanente, the nation’s largest integrated health system, committed up to $ 1.65 million to support relief and recovery efforts in communities affected by the recent California wildfires.

Kaiser Permanente is committing up to $ 1 million to the American Red Cross and other organizations to help Camp Fire victims in Northern California. The funds will support community-based and faith-based organizations helping people recover from these disasters. Kaiser Permanente has also deployed medical and nursing volunteers to provide care to displaced families and seniors now living in shelters.

The health system will also provide $ 500,000 to the United Way of Greater Los Angeles for immediate relief efforts as well as longer-term recovery support to organizations serving low-income residents.

Another $ 150,000 will go to Ventura County Community Foundation, with $ 50,000 specifically allocated to the foundation for organizational capacity support and the balance to provide shelter and long-term housing, financial and rental assistance, legal services, health care and more for those affected by the Woolsey and Hill fires in Southern California. For the next eight weeks, Kaiser Permanente is offering crisis support groups to the community for those impacted by the Thousand Oaks shooting and the fires.

“We are deeply saddened to see how these fires have hurt our communities across California,” said Bechara Choucair, MD, senior vice president and chief community health officer, Kaiser Permanente. “It is times like these when Kaiser Permanente leans in to fulfill our commitment to the health of our communities we serve, leveraging our resources, expertise and leadership in community health.”

In early November, massive, deadly wildfires broke out in Butte County in Northern California and in Ventura and Los Angeles counties in Southern California, destroying thousands of homes and displacing scores of people, including many vulnerable seniors. During that time, Kaiser Permanente worked alongside organizations including the American Red Cross and the United Way of Greater Los Angeles to provide support and determine the needs of the communities.

“The Red Cross is grateful for the commitment of Kaiser Permanente whose generosity helps provide shelter, food and comfort for people affected by the devastating wildfires in California,” said Don Herring, chief development officer at the American Red Cross.

“We are grateful for the fast response and generous aid Kaiser Permanente provided to United Way of Greater Los Angeles’ Disaster Relief Fund,” said Elise Buik, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Los Angeles. “This is a critical time, and this contribution will help vulnerable individuals and families rebuild their lives.”

Kaiser Permanente has a long-standing commitment to the health of communities across the country, including during times of natural disaster. Kaiser Permanente has so far committed more than $ 8 million during 2017 and 2018 to support relief and recovery efforts, including mental health services, for survivors of natural disasters such as the fires in Northern California, the Thomas Fire in Southern California, Hurricane Harvey in the southeast United States, and Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.

About Kaiser PermanenteKaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve more than 12.2 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: kp.org/share.

A clutch of bespectacled Angelenos joined luxury eyewear brand Oliver Peoples on Thursday to fete the launch of the Assouline tome “California as We See It.” Cohosted by photographer and Los Angeles style arbiter Lisa Eisner, who penned the book’s foreword, the party drew Shaun Ross, Levi Dylan, William Peltz, Stormi Henley, Markus Molinari, Brad Elterman, Lorenza Izzo, Ivan Olita and Tasya van Ree, along with Oliver Peoples chief executive officer Rocco Basilico and creative director Giampiero Tagliaferri.
“Do you remember their first shop?” asked Eisner of the Sunset Plaza store a few blocks down the street. “It was right in the middle of all this history — George Hurrell’s studio, Billy Haines’ showroom, Adrian’s shop. Then there were all the rock clubs like The Whiskey a Go Go and The Roxy.” She also pointed out the pioneering retailer Charles Gallay — the first boutique in the U.S. to carry Azzedine Alaïa — and the location used for the apartment of Richard Gere’s character in “American Gigolo.”
“That’s sort of the area in which we played, and when I bought my first pair of Oliver Peoples in the Eighties, we were like this clique,” she said. Eisner has also photographed several campaigns

Self-proclaimed cult leader Unicole Unicron signed off a recent video memo to followers with an important reminder: “Don’t forget to ask your sex robot for consent.”

The line was a hint at Unicron’s latest business venture, Eve’s Robot Dreams—a consent-focused robot brothel that the cult leader hopes to open in West Hollywood, California, in the near future.

Details are scarce, but the idea is simple: Unicron expects to purchase and rent out sex robots by the hour to customers who want to make love to a life-size, talking Barbie with a vagina—as long as the robot agrees to it.

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

At 11 a.m. last Friday, thousands of former Paradise, Calif., residents were taking stock of all they had lost to the worst wildfire in the state’s history while they continued the grim task of looking for missing loved ones.

At the same moment, with smoke from the deadly Camp Fire blanketing much of the state, millions more Californians were struggling to breathe.

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Nov. 16 was one of the most dangerously smoky days in Northern and Central California, as wildfire smoke shrouded communities like an acrid fog.

Air quality readings in several cities, including Sacramento, Modesto and Chico, spiked into “hazardous” territory. But the risks extended much farther away. Residents of San Francisco Bay Area communities couldn’t see the city’s iconic skyline because of the intense smoke.

“We saw the highest readings in some of the locations that we’d ever seen before,” said Simrun Dhoot, a spokeswoman for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the local government agency that monitors air quality. “It was pretty much the worst air quality that we’ve ever experienced.”

The Camp Fire, which broke out on Nov. 8, has killed at least 79 people, burned more than 150,000 acres and destroyed more than 12,000 homes. The combined smoke from that and other California fires has drifted as far as the East Coast.

Wildfire smoke is dangerous because it contains fine particles that enter the lungs and can infiltrate the bloodstream. Prolonged exposure can cause or worsen respiratory issues, such as asthma. Some groups are especially vulnerable, including those with cardiovascular issues, children and older people.

In this case, the AQI readings reflect the density of fine particulate matter in the air full of wildfire smoke.

On this scale, readings above 100 mean the air is unhealthy for sensitive groups, including people with heart or lung disease, older people and children. Readings above 150 are considered unhealthy for everyone.

Sacramento’s air registered in the 300s for much of the day Friday, a level considered “hazardous” and constituting “emergency conditions,” according to the EPA. Residents were warned to stay inside. Sacramento’s AQI — and others in the region — topped 400 at times.

By contrast, air quality in other parts of California, especially Southern California and coastal communities, were in the healthy range. For instance, San Bernardino, hundreds of miles away, was categorized as “good,” with an AQI of 26.

The massive Carr Fire that blazed in and around Redding in July and August was the last major fire to significantly affect air quality in the Sacramento region. The worst recorded reading during that fire was around 130, the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District said.

At AQI levels above 150, public health officials suggest people avoid prolonged activity outdoors, or wear the right kind of mask if they must go outside — especially if they have a health condition.

State health officials recommend “N95” respirators or “P100” masks, which are intended to block at least 95 percent of the tiny particulate matter measured by the AQI — known as PM2.5 — that spews from wildfire smoke.

Meteorologists were predicting stronger southerly winds and rain for Wednesday, which is expected to help clean the air and fight the Camp Fire, which is 70 percent contained.

But experts warn that Californians might have to learn to live with smoke-filled air.

“We’re expecting to see these events happen more often because of climate change,” Dhoot said. “People are starting to realize they need to stock up on N95 masks.”

Hundreds of people remain missing in the wake of a pair of deadly wildfires that have been burning across both ends of California.ABC News: Top Stories

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http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

Authorities on Sunday sifted through the charred wreckage of California’s deadliest ever wildfire, searching for any signs of the 993 people now listed as missing after the Camp Fire tore through the mountain town of Paradise.

Authorities on Monday redoubled efforts to find more victims of the deadliest wildfire in California history and to account for nearly 1,000 people listed as missing, with forecast rains expected to hinder the search and raise the risk of mudslides.

The type of mask matters if you don’t want to inhale harmful pollutants.ABC News: Health

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http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

Authorities sifted through the charred wreckage of California’s deadliest ever wildfire on Sunday, searching for any signs of the 1,276 people now listed as missing after the Camp Fire tore through the mountain town of Paradise.

Porter, a consumer advocate lawyer and law professor, will represent California's 45th Congressional District, which has one of the highest median household income levels nationally – more than $ 100,000, according to data from the Census Bureau.Politics

Due to the wildfires raging in Northern California, San Francisco, Stockton and Sacramento were the world’s three “most polluted cities” on Friday morning, according to Berkeley Earth, a nonprofit that aggregates data from air-quality monitoring sites.

Family members and survivors of the deadliest wildfire in California history sought news on Friday on the missing 630 people – 10 times the number of confirmed dead – from the fast-moving blaze that reduced much of the town of Paradise to ash and charred rubble.

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

Jamie Foxxwas just one of many celebrities affected by the multiple wildfires tearing through California, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate their homes.

Caitlyn Jenner, Khloe and Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga, Orlando Bloom, and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Camille Grammer had homes in the path of the blaze, and just like Foxx, all were forced to flee. Grammer’s home burned to the ground, as did the Malibu homes of April Geary and Robin Thicke and Miley Cyrus.

“We’re all affected [in California.] We had to evacuate, so my kids and my family are in hotels but they’re safe,” the actor told ET’s Nischelle Turner at the premiere of his upcoming action-adventure Robin Hood in New York City.

“But at least 25 people lost their lives, a lot of people are hurting in my neighborhood in Thousand Oaks, and of course, you know, the shootings,” Foxx said, referring to the mass shooting at the Borderline Bar and Grill last week, which left 12 people dead.

“So, I can’t tell people enough, in a world right now where it’s sort of crazy times to just look for the good in people. Stop looking for the bad in people,” he added. “And just pray for the kids, man, pray for everybody in California. People are losing their whole existence. we were fortunate enough to be able to move but a lot of people aren’t, so just God bless all.”

Meanwhile, Foxx’s upcoming action blockbuster Robin Hood takes place in medieval England, and he plays Little John – a Moorish military commander. According to msn.com, for this iteration, they opted not to have Jamie affect a British accent for the role.

“We tried to do this with a sort of suspension of reality in a sense, we just sort of put our own spin on. So everybody had a different vernacular,” Foxx explained. “I basically patterned my voice pattern after the guy in Malcolm X, when Denzel went to jail… Every time I would do a line I would go think back [to that actor]… and a little bit of Anthony Hopkins.”

8 million ballots in Florida are being re-scanned for both governor and Senate races; Volunteers in California brave the fires to rescue animals from the flamesABC News: World News Tonight

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http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

Khloé Kardashian shared a video on Saturday, November 10, showing her picking up supplies for firefighters battling the Woolsey fire threatening Malibu, Calabasas and other parts of Southern California.

The reality TV star, 34, posted a series of clips on her Instagram Story showing her wearing a mask over her face due to the heavy smoke.

“I am at the CVS in the Commons, because I had to get a couple things at the house, and I am going to post this request from what the fire department needs and whoever can drop off whatever they can any little bit helps,” she said. “Here at CVS, I basically got everything they had in stock. I got as many waters as I could.”

“I know the brave men and women that are working so hard, tirelessly for all of us will greatly appreciate it. So please just do whatever you can, even if it’s one bottle of water, one container of eye drops, one granola bar, anything. I know they would appreciate it,” she continued. “I love everyone. Stay safe and god bless.”

She shared the list of needed items — including water, eye drops, beef jerky and energy drinks — on her Instagram Story and posted another video after dropping off her donation. “It is getting a little scarier out here,” she said as she sat in her car. “It looks like things are picking up again, which is scary, but everyone stay safe and just, this reminds you of what’s important.”

Her mom, Kris Jenner, responded to Kardashian’s gesture, tweeting, “After @kyliejenner sent this on our group text @khloekardashian ran to the pharmacy to shop for the Firefighters… such a huge heart Bunny!! Let’s take care of our guys! Thank you to all of the men and women fighting these fires and risking their lives…”

“I just left with the clothes on my back but I think I packed Trues entire bedroom and closet into my car obviously she’s all that matters to me,” she tweeted, later updating fans to let them know she was with her brother, Rob Kardashian, and his 2-year-old daughter, Dream.

I just left with the clothes on my back but I think I packed Trues entire bedroom and closet into my car obviously she’s all that matters to me

Kim Kardashian and Kanye Westalso evacuated their home on Friday with the mother of three posting that she’d “heard the flames have hit our property at our home in Hidden Hills but now are more contained and have stopped at the moment. It doesn’t seems like it is getting worse right now, I just pray the winds are in our favor. God is good. I’m just praying everyone else is safe.”

I heard the flames have hit our property at our home in Hidden Hills but now are more contained and have stopped at the moment. It doesn’t seems like it is getting worse right now, I just pray the winds are in our favor. God is good. I’m just praying everyone is safe

The Woolsey fire is one of three wildfires currently sweeping through Northern and Southern California. It has led to the evacuation of 250,000 people and has burned 70,000 acres. Robin Thickeand April Love Geary are among those who have lost their homes in the fast-moving blaze.

Wildfires burned out of control on Friday across California, killing at least nine people in a mountain town and forcing residents to flee the upscale beach community of Malibu in the face of a monster fire storm.

Malibu is on fire and that includes areas of Calabasas and Hidden Hills where many homes of celebrities are in danger. Kim Kardashian announced Thursday night she needed to evacuate and on Friday, it was reported that Caitlyn Jenner’s Malibu home burned to the ground. Kim Kardashian shared an update after she and her sisters shared their fears regarding the fires and posted status updates indicating they were praying.

Kim Kardashian tweeted the following.

“I heard the flames have hit our property at our home in Hidden Hills but now are more contained and have stopped at the moment. It doesn’t seems like it is getting worse right now, I just pray the winds are in our favor. God is good. I’m just praying everyone is safe.”

According to authorities, things haven’t been getting better and the Woolsey Fire has grown in size. There are reports that certain areas fire hydrants have run out of water and a state of emergency has been declared in several counties including Los Angeles, County.

The latest news says that winds have died down but are expected to pick up again on Sunday.

Kim Kardashian also shared a photo of herself with her niece and again reiterated just how stressful the California wildfires are.

Trying to get my mind off of this fire and snuggling with my niece. We are all safe and that’s all that matters pic.twitter.com/RPPBTsKNd6

A number of celebrities have shared their anxiety regarding the California fires on social media platforms. While Hollywood celebrities have the resources to make last-minute evacuation plans, not everyone in California can get out as quickly as needed.

Actor James Woods used his personal Twitter account on Thursday, at the beginning of the fires, to try and connect those looking for loved ones.

He created two hashtags: SoCalFiresJamesWoods and CampFireJamesWoods so those who need information or are looking for people can use the hashtag and share, retweet, and look for their missing friends and family members.

The hashtag campaign has been a success with many people and animals being marked as found.

The California wildfires are in the early stages and some experts have suggested they may burn for more than one week straight. Those who would like to help others in harms way may contact the Red Cross to make a donation.

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

California voters are being bombarded with ads in what is the most expensive ballot measure campaign this year. They are being asked to decide Tuesday whether the state should limit the profit of kidney dialysis centers to 15 percent over the cost of patient care, with revenue above that rebated primarily to insurers.

What exactly would happen if voters approve Proposition 8 is still vague, and the $ 127 million raised to persuade voters hasn’t made it any clearer.

Both sides are making bold statements. But even the Legislative Analyst’s Office, nonpartisan officials who advise the state Legislature, said Prop 8 could result in a “net positive impact in the low tens of millions of dollars to net negative impact in the tens of millions of dollars.” In other words: No one knows.

Here’s what both sides had to say and what they base it on.

Against Proposition 8

The dialysis companies, mostly DaVita and Fresenius Medical Care, have contributed more than $ 110 million to fight Prop 8, more than six times what the “Yes on 8” campaign has raised. Their ads feature concerned health care professionals and dialysis patients warning voters of the terrible effects Prop 8 would have on dialysis patients and taxpayers in California.

This ad is just one in a series in heavy rotation on TV stations across the state. Like most of the “No on 8” advertisements, it prominently cites the Berkeley Research Group when claiming Prop 8 “would force many dialysis clinics to shut down, and threaten the care that patients need to survive.”

The narrator of the ad goes on to say “studies show Prop 8 will increase health care costs by hundreds of millions of dollars,” again citing the Berkeley Research Group.

The Berkeley Research Group is a large international consulting firm hired by the “No on 8” committee to analyze the proposition’s economic impact. It was paid more than $ 200,000 by the committee, according to campaign finance reports filed with the California secretary of state.

The consulting firm — which is not affiliated with the University of California — based its analysis on financial data from dialysis clinics around the state, including self-reported totals for direct patient care, quality improvements and “non-allowable” costs. Non-allowable costs, which might include some management staff positions and corporate overhead costs, will be ironed out through a public rule-making process if Prop 8 is passed.

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The researchers used their own interpretation of non-allowable costs, took that to calculate how many clinics would surpass the 15 percent margin, and then applied the reimbursements that Prop 8 would require to conclude that “most clinics will migrate to having negative operating margins.” The analysis estimated that Prop 8 would increase health care costs for taxpayers by between $ 12 million and $ 2.6 billion annually.

Whether that happens depends on how clinics could adjust their operations to decrease their expenses that are not considered allowable patient care costs.

There is nothing unusual about relying on consultants to supply ammunition for a political campaign. “The effort to marshal research to support an advocacy campaign is not at all uncommon,” said Edward Walker, a sociology professor at UCLA specializing in political lobbying by businesses. He also pointed out that the advocacy campaigns often try to distance themselves from the research they pay for.

The Berkeley Research Group report leaves no room for uncertainty. “It is certain that Prop 8 will result in the closure of numerous clinics and the withdrawal of dialysis services from hundreds of thousands of patients,” the report said.

For Proposition 8

The Yes committee is funded almost exclusively by the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West. The union has long fought to organize workers at dialysis clinics. Rather than focus on Prop 8’s possible effects, the “Yes” ads criticize the dialysis industry in general. The labor union has contributed more than $ 17 million to the “Yes on 8” committee, the largest amount SEIU has ever shelled out.

This ad starts out dramatically: “$ 150,000 a year,” the narrator intones. “That’s how much big dialysis corporations charge some patients, a 350 percent markup over the cost of care.” The ad doesn’t cite a source, but the figure roughly matches what industry financial analysts say private health insurance pays for dialysis.

Dialysis companies argue that the low reimbursement rate from Medicare — which covers about 90 percent of patients — is the reason they are forced to charge more for the 10 percent who are covered by private insurance. Those private insurance payments allow them to remain profitable. SEIU argues that high rates for private insurance contributes to higher overall health care costs and points out that the dialysis companies have a higher profit margin than hospitals in the state.

DaVita, a for-profit company that runs half of all dialysis clinics in California and is the biggest contributor to the “No on 8” campaign, reported profits of $ 1.8 billion on revenue of $ 10.9 billion last year, almost all of which came from its dialysis business.

The “Yes on 8” ad also cites an investigation by ProPublica, a nonprofit news organization, which found that the U.S. has one of the highest fatality rates for dialysis in the industrialized world. The narrator says, “Dialysis corporations make a killing, driving up insurance rates while patients report blood stains and cockroaches in their clinics,” while a quote from the ProPublica article is flashed on the screen. It says: “dangerous conditions, inadequate care, higher-than-expected mortality rates.”

While the ProPublica report did find troubling conditions in dialysis clinics around the country, the allegation of cockroaches was from a different report. ProPublica’s investigation examined records from more than 1,500 clinics in a number of states, including California, and it noted filthy or unsafe conditions in almost half of the units. But it doesn’t say the problem is any better or worse in California.

The “Yes on 8” committee’s communications approach is part of an ongoing campaign to challenge the power and profits of large dialysis companies, and organize their workers.

“This is in part a proxy battle between the labor unions and the dialysis centers,” Walker said. “It’s a way to increase the pressure and the leverage.”

PASADENA, Calif. — Kaiser Permanente Southern California facilities, in partnership with local law enforcement agencies, are encouraging community members to participate in “National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day” on Saturday, October 27, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

“At Kaiser Permanente we remain actively involved in the total health of our Southern California community, and we feel it’s our responsibility to educate the community about the importance of responsibly disposing prescription drugs, while also raising awareness of the significant harm that comes from abuse of medications, “said Alan Kiyohara, vice president, Pharmacy Operations and Services for Kaiser Permanente Southern California. “Studies have shown that medicines that remain in the home are highly susceptible to misuse.”

There are 16 Kaiser Permanente Southern California facilities participating as drop-off sites for Take Back Day. Earlier this year, 11 Kaiser Permanente facilities participated during the Take Back Day, where more than 6,700 pounds of unused and expired medications were collected.

These prescription drug take back events address vital public safety and public health issues while providing residents with a convenient and anonymous way to safely dispose of expired, unwanted, or unused medicines.

Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, more people started down the path of addiction through the misuse of opioid prescription drugs, and each year higher amounts of opioids are being turned in at the Take Back Day events.

Those unable to participate on October 27 can properly dispose of medications at drug disposal kiosks in Kaiser Permanente facilities throughout Southern California. Kiosks are available at Kaiser Permanente locations for public use during regular service hours.

About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve more than 12.2 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: kp.org/share.

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

But the fierce and proactive attempt to expand women’s reproductive rights was stopped in its tracks by one man who deemed it inconsequential: Last Monday, Jerry Brown vetoed the act, calling it “not necessary.”

.@JerryBrownGov’s veto message is such a classic straight white man move – “Yes, I know you said you need this, but trust me, I know what’s best for you even though it’s the opposite of what you told me.” #SB320pic.twitter.com/WHsLjh5QJC

But just because Governor Brown was never in need of abortion care on campus doesn’t mean no one else is. More than 500 students in the UC and California State University systemsseek out abortions monthly, and these students would have a much easier time getting the care they need if their university health centers had the means to offer it. Many students have to travel far distances to get to appointments, and, for a medical abortion, usually need to make it to at least two appointments.

Jessy Rosales was a 20-year-old student at the University of California, Riverside, when she got pregnant. She had used protection and was not ready to become a mom, so she went to her campus health center to ask about the abortion pill—actually a combination of two medications that can safely end a pregnancy.

She left with a list of recommended providers. But the first clinic she called told her it did not perform abortions. And the second was a crisis pregnancy center—a facility that seeks to dissuade women from having abortions.

“I’m a first-generation student. For a large majority of my life, my parents didn’t have health insurance, so I didn’t really know what I was doing trying to navigate through the medical system,” Rosales, now 22, recalled in a conversation with HuffPost.

Finally, more than two months after her positive pregnancy test, she went to a nearby Planned Parenthood health center, where she was able to get an in-clinic abortion. It cost her roughly $ 400—a lot of money for a student supporting herself with part-time work and federal loans—and she was told she was too far along to be a candidate for the abortion pill at that point. (It must be taken before 10 weeks of gestation.)

“Had they provided abortion medication on my campus, I would have been able to get the care I needed when I needed it,” Rosales said.

Two-thirds of UC students and one-third of CSU students don’t own a car; 62 percent of them also live 30 minutes or more from a clinic. Often, these clinics are not open on the weekend, which only adds to their burden.

Going through with a legal and time-sensitive medical procedure shouldn’t take that much work. Seizing an opportunity to ease the process of managing an unwanted pregnancy is far from “not necessary” for the students who must arrange transportation, cover costs, miss class or skip work to make it possible to access the care they need.

“Governor Jerry Brown, on his own, determined what was a legitimate burden in accessing abortion and neglected the experiences of countless students who explained the obstacles and burdens they faced when making a reproductive health decision as a California public university student,” Adiba Khan, one of the students who led the fight for SB 320, told Ms. “To get elected, he has expressed he is ‘pro-choice,’ but then when given the chance to expand access, to what he has repetitively claimed he believes is a right, he vetoes it. This is the behavior of a coward. He has disappointed thousands of students and denied them better agency over their futures.”

Students from across California joined in Khan’s frustration, taking to social media to slam Brown for his decision after news broke that he was vetoing the legislation.

.@JerryBrownGov I know it was easy for you to veto #SB320 but it won’t be easy for the thousands of students facing barriers to abortion access. Folks who need abortions are living in a terrifying time & passing this bill would have allowed us to sleep a little better.

Advocates and activists from across the country also weighed in, showing solidarity with the students who made SB 320 possible and calling on Brown and other lawmakers to do better by the women they serve.

@JerryBrownGov: How dare you cite our study in vetoing #SB320? The thing is that #SB320 is not about distances to the nearest abortion provider. It's about the challenges busy, low-income students face accessing care — which being an older white man, you wouldn't know about. pic.twitter.com/Gfl05xje6B

Shame on you @JerryBrownGov. Young people need access to contraception. Shoutout to all the young activists who fought so hard for #SB320 because they knew they and their classmates faced challenges in accessing abortion care. https://t.co/466ZPMivMk

“At its core, SB 320 affirmed the constitutional right of college students to access abortion care promptly and without delay,” Senator Leyva wrote in a statement. “As the Trump Administration continues to unravel many of the critical health care protections and services for women, legislation such as this is urgently needed to make sure that Californians are able to access the full range of reproductive care regardless of where they may live.”

She also vowed to continue fighting. “In the months and years ahead,” she declared, “I will continue fighting to make sure that college students have access to medication abortion on college campuses. I am hopeful that our incoming Legislature and Governor will agree that the right to choose isn’t just a slogan, but rather a commitment to improving true access to abortion for students across California.”

Miranda Martin is a feminist writer and activist and an editorial intern at Ms. She has written for a variety of publications and been published by The Unedit and Project Consent. Miranda recently graduated from University of Wisconsin La Crosse with a major in Interpersonal Communications and a double minor in Creative Writing and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. She loves to travel, read, exercise and daydream about the fall of the patriarchy.

Sunshine is essential for solar energy, which is why it’s no surprise California is the number one state for solar, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. The Golden State is home to five of the top 10 solar cities in the country, including Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Jose. It is a state-wide initiative to run on 33 percent renewable energy by 2020, which means there are countless California solar power rebates and incentives for homeowners like you.

The Financial Benefits of Going Solar

With most cities averaging 250+ days of sunshine, California is the ideal location for supplying your home with year-round savings on your utility bill. California also offers multiple rebates and incentives for homeowners.

Here are four reasons why solar panels are an excellent investment:

Reduce Your Electricity Bills

According to EnergySage.com, the typical American family spends more than $ 1,430 a year on electricity alone. Solar energy can help dramatically offset that bill.

In California, the average 20-year savings after a solar panel installation is $ 29,424. With a payback time of fewer than ten years, California is ranked third in the country for return on a solar panel investment.

Increase the Value of Your Home

Research has shown that homes with solar panel installations can sell for $ 15,000 more than the original sale price. Southern California homes increased their average value by 3.8 percent— the equivalent of $ 20,194 in added value.

Pay Zero Property Taxes on Your Solar System

Through 2024, qualifying California homes with new installations are exempt from paying state property taxes on their solar installations. This incentive can save homeowners up to 70 percent on installation costs.

Avoid Rising Energy Costs

The average per-kilowatt cost of residential electricity increases 2.2 percent each year. By switching to solar, you can significantly decrease —or even eliminate— your energy bill and avoid this increase in annual utility costs.

Find Solar Power Rebates and Offers Near You

Solar energy is a long-term investment. California offers multiple rebates and incentives to help homeowners manage the cost of a solar investment.

Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit

This national rebate program allows homeowners to deduct 30 percent of a solar installation cost from federal taxes. In 2017, this credit saved the average Californian $ 5,000 on their solar panel system.

California utility companies use net metering to buy unused solar power and credit homeowners for the energy that is supplied back to the grid.

Single-Family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH) Program

If you meet certain income criteria and are a customer of Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison, or San Diego Gas and Electric, you may qualify for rebates as high as $ 10,000 through fixed, up-front incentives that help offset the cost of your system.

Power Purchase Agreement: Under a PPA, a homeowner can buy the energy that solar panels produce—rather than the system itself—for a reduced cost.

FIGHTING HARASSMENT: Models in California now have a little more legal reenforcement thanks to the passage of the Talent Protections Act, which was created to fight sexual harassment and eating disorders. While not designed solely for models, the law is geared for the state’s fashion and entertainment industries. California Gov. Jerry Brown signed it into law Sept. 30 and it will take effect in January.
The Model Alliance, the New York-based organization that champions models’ rights, worked closely with California State Assembly member Marc Levine, detailing models’ experiences to help develop the law and calling for its support.
Under the law, talent agencies must create educational materials about sexual harassment prevention and retaliation, as well as information about good nutrition and eating disorders for adults. For minors starting out in the entertainment industry, they and their parents, or respective legal guardian, will be required to have training in these areas. The law also mandates that information about nutrition be provided to fashion models.
Models are routinely advised to lose weight, according to what is said to be the largest survey to date on eating disorders among professional models. Published last year in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, the study was an effort

In a push to further corporate board diversity, California has enacted new legislation requiring publicly-traded firms in the state to have at least one woman on the board of directors.

Companies have until the end of 2019 to comply or face penalties. The more directors on the board, the more women the companies are required to add. For example, if a business has five directors, the law says it must add two women by 2021—six or more directors, then three women must be added to the board.

According to CNN, it’s the first law of such kind in the United States, but similar legislation exists in Europe.

There has been a recent focus on not just diversifying companies at the executive level, but also in the boardroom.

Keeping Tabs on Board Diversity for Over Half a Decade

A recent 2017 Deloitte survey revealed “90% of directors indicate that they want greater diversity, approximately half of the surveyed corporations ‘lack a clear process for recruiting candidates with diverse skill sets or new perspectives.’ And despite the fact that more than 90% of the respondents cite that greater board diversity would improve innovation, disruption, and overall business performance, only 16% view lack of diversity among the top challenges in enlisting new board members or succession planning,” writes Black Enterprise SVP/editor-in-chief Derek T. Dingle.

Over the past six years, Black Enterprise has identified African Americans who serve on the boards of America’s largest publicly-traded corporations. As part of our examination, we have, for the second time, reviewed the entire universe of Standard & Poor’s 500 companies to gain a more thorough assessment of boardroom diversity. As such, we have witnessed an expansion in the membership of African American board members who comprise our exclusive Black Enterprise Registry of Corporate Directors.

The latest issue of Black Enterprise magazine profiles two black women corporate directors; Lisa Wardell, is the only black woman to serve as CEO in a Fortune 1000 company, Adtalem Global Education, formerly The DeVry Education Group. She sits on that company’s board and was just appointed to Lowe’s board.

“I had just assumed a corporate CFO role, and I had been working with a headhunting firm to staff my team, and so the headhunter at the time said, “Have you ever thought about being on a board?” Some months went by and I used that opportunity and took some courses from the National Association of Corporate Directors to certify myself in some of the areas of board [service], like compensation committee, strategy, etc.,” Travis said in the article.

While many corporate directors subscribe to the idea of more diverse boards, not everyone agrees mandating companies is the way to go.

Is It Diversity Only for White Women?

The California Chamber of Commerce opposes the law citing it violates “the independent voting rights of corporate boards and force companies to discriminate against qualified men,” The Tribune reports.

Trump-appointed SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce also criticized the law. “Opening such a wide door introduces uncertainty and political influence into corporate operations,” she said at a conference.

And does this law in any way help get more black and brown people onto corporate boards? One of the California Chamber of Commerce’s concerns about this legislation is it prioritizes gender over other aspects of diversity, reports CNBC. Some may feel this will only put more white women on boards.

While there remains a lack of representation of women on boards, the number of black men and women corporate directors are even smaller.

Women’s presence on boards have been increasing albeit progress has been slow and incremental. Women make up about 22% of Fortune 500 boards.

Part of the problem with getting more people of color on boards is companies often want to appoint those at the c-suite level—preferably CEOs–to boards.

In the last few years, the number of black CEOs of publicly-traded companies has dwindled with several high profile business leaders stepping down from their positions, including Xerox’s Ursula Burns and former AMEX CEO Ken Chenault.

Joseph Grundfest, co-director of the Rock Center on Corporate Governance at Stanford University and a member of Directors & Boards editorial advisory board says the legislation is ‘“well intentioned,” but maintains it “will not achieve its intended effect.” It will, he adds, only lead to a trivial gain of board seats for women, “but increase the risk of judicial rulings inimical to broader affirmative action initiatives.”

California has officially outlawed all-male boards of directors, and this is a huge step forward

Women and men still aren’t equal in the workplace. And one of the ways this is most apparent is in the lack of women in the boardroom. In fact, gender disparity among business executives is so pronounced that there are almost as many CEOs named John as there are CEOs who are women, total. But the state of California just took a huge step toward gender equality by requiring businesses to put women on their boards of directors.

According to The Los Angeles Times, on September 30th, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a new law that will require all publicly traded businesses with headquarters in the state to have women on their boards of directors.

But the new law doesn’t require total gender parity. It stipulates that by the end of 2019, these companies must each have at least one woman on their boards. By the end of July 2021, boards with five or fewer members must have at least two women, while boards with six or more members must have at least three women represented. Businesses found to be violating this law will have to pay fines of $ 100,000 for a first offense and $ 300,000 for a second offense, the Times reports.

California now requires publicly traded companies to include women on the board of directors. CA is the first state in the US with this mandate. Governor Jerry Brown signed the controversial bill, SB 826, into law today. pic.twitter.com/XGo2B68Faj

In a letter addressed to the California State Senate about signing the bill, published by the Times, Brown seemed to allude to the Senate Judiciary Committee’s recent decision to recommend Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, despite allegations of sexual assault against him.

“There have been numerous objections to this bill and serious legal concerns have been raised,” he wrote. “I don’t minmize the potential flaws that may prove fatal to its ultimate implementation. Nevertheless, recent events in Washington, D.C.—and beyond—make it crystal clear that many are not getting the message.”

Brown concluded his letter by writing that “it’s high time corporate boards include the people who constitute more than half the ‘persons’ in America.”

Wow. Acknowledging numerous objections, serious legal concerns and potential flaws, Gov. Jerry Brown just signed #SB826 requiring publicly held corporations based in California to have a representative number of women on their board of directors: https://t.co/pAL5WLCH3Jpic.twitter.com/2j5HYtmHVM

Timepoints out that 25% of public corporations headquartered in California have zero women on their boards of directors. But not everyone agrees with the new law. According to the magazine, the California Chamber of Commerce argued that the new law violates anti-discrimination rules in the Constitution.

Even though there will likely be some opposition, California’s new law still represents progress for women in the workforce.

We look forward to the day when men and women are equally represented in the boardroom.